How to Prepare Your Family for a National Disaster

Steps

Take an emergency preparedness course.One of the best ones is offered at local community and technical colleges in classes.

Keep a basic first aid kit on hand at all times.Make sure you order snake venom and bee venom treatments, as well.

Water is vital.Store one gallon of water per person and pet per day. Keep at least three-day supply of water for each person and pet available.

You should also have a water purification method ready to go, such as boiling your water, having a water disinfectant, or a filtration system.Boiling is the most preferred way to kill viruses, bacteria, and parasites. This is followed closely by disinfectants - such as unscented household bleach or chlorine dioxide tablets - and purification filters. The filters are handy to have for those times when you need to be on-the-go.

As well as keeping a first aid kit and water, non-perishable food is a must.Be sure that you keep enough food stored for at least three meals per day per person and pet for a minimum of three days. Be sure to keep cooking utensils, plastic-ware, paper plates, paper towels, and a manual can opener handy.

Keep an alternate cooking source - such as a charcoal grill or a camp stove - nearby.You never know when you will need it.

Make sure that you have basic camping and emergency supplies:flashlights, extra batteries, extra prescription medications, battery- or solar-powered radio, cell phone and its charger, fire extinguisher, and matches. Extra blankets and clothes are also essential.

Keep important documents and a secret stash of currency or other bartering items, like your birth certificates, passports, marriage licenses, mortgage paperwork, car titles, insurance cards and vaccination records, family contact information, house and car keys, and debit cards and cash.

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

You can survive for three weeks without food and three days without any water, but only three hours in severe weather. Make sure that you seek out a sufficient shelter for you and your family if you do not already have one.

You can conserve heat by stuffing your clothes and your shelter with dried leaves.

Do not forget the toothpaste! In addition to keeping your teeth clean, it can also be used to relieve minor burns, treat minor wounds, and relieve itchiness and swelling from bug bites.

Things You'll Need

Non-perishable food: 3 meals per person and pet for three to fourteen days, a manual can opener, cooking utensils, paper plates, plastic ware, and charcoal grill or camp stove. Also, a capacity to start your own garden and grow your own food would be very helpful.

Water: 3 to 14 gallons of water per person and pet (one gallon per person or pet per day) and water purification method.